Abstract:
A method of broadcasting data files to selected mobile units, comprising steps of (a) receiving, through a bi-directional wireless network, a data request from a mobile unit, the data request including identification information for the mobile unit, (b) associating the data request with a digital data file; and (c) broadcasting the digital data file together with identification data for the mobile unit over a download channel on a broadcast network that has an overlapping coverage area with the bi-directional wireless network.
Abstract:
A secondary satellite radio or broadcast channel is used to broadcast advertisement clips (e.g., audio clips) to a receiver for subsequent decoding and playback. The receiver is configured for different tiers of service, e.g., one that delivers substantially advertising-free content and another that delivers content that includes more significant amounts of advertising. The content delivered to both is the same content; however, for the service tier that includes more advertising, the advertisements broadcast on the secondary channel are interleaved into the content, preferably in such a way that the continuity of the content being delivered is not compromised.
Abstract:
A system for recording and playing back data and a karaoke satellite radio receiver and related systems and methods, the recording/playback system includes: (1) a buffer, (2) a recorder controller configured to intercept a data stream during operation of the receiver and store a portion of the data stream in the buffer and (3) a playback switch configured to receive a command that causes the recorder controller to substitute the portion stored in the buffer for the data stream flowing from the demodulator. The latter system includes: (1) a demodulator configured to receive a data channel, (2) a channel selector configured to select at least the channel, (3) a visual display configured to display at least accompanying text and (4) a text manager configured to extract the text from the channel and cause the visual display to display the text in coordination with audio being played by the receiver.
Abstract:
A composite data stream is stored on a data storage medium. The composite data stream comprises a plurality of program channels to provide services such as satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS), among others. The program channels are multiplexed into the composite data stream, which also comprises control data for indicating where services are located in the composite data stream. A playback device is configured to access the composite data stream on the data storage medium, to demultiplex at least the program channels and to retrieve selected services from the data storage medium in response to user inputs by using the control data.
Abstract:
The present invention I related to a contents provider supplies encoded contents to a transmitting station, and broadcasts the encoded contents via a satellite. At a gas station inside a service area of the satellite, a base station to receive the contents from the satellite is disposed. The contents provider transmits to each base station decoding keys to decode the transmitted contents via the Internet. The base station relates the received contents to the decoding keys to store in a large capacity memory. When a vehicle stops by at the gas station, a vehicle-mounted apparatus communicates with the base station so as to download the contents, accumulate in a memory, and reproduce. This enables digital contents to be distributed to a mobile body with small-scale equipment.
Abstract:
A data transmission device transmits a data broadcast using a narrow unused broadcasting band in a digital broadcast, and to record the data broadcast, which has been received, on a receiving side so that the receiving side can play back the data broadcast after a data stream is totally recorded. The transmission device generates a first data stream, which is recorded on a recording medium on a receiving side, and a second data stream including audio and video data, which is transmitted as a broadcasting program. The transmission device multiplexes the first and the second data streams and then transmits the multiplexed data stream. The transmission of the multiplexed data stream is controlled so that a transmission rate for the multiplexed data stream does not exceed the maximum transmission rate, and so that a transmission rate for the first data stream becomes lower than that for the second data stream. A receiving device records the first data stream on the recording medium, and permits the first data stream to be played back for use after the transmission completes.
Abstract:
Connected to a satellite earth station for transmitting a broadcast signal to a communication satellite, a data (distribution) center publishes contents of stored information on a home page (HP) of the Internet to submit retrieval of users. When each user determines date to be gotten by retrieving on HP, the user transmits a request signal to the date center via a ground Internet or the communication satellite. Responsive to the request signal, the date center returns a reservation signal including a group address and a distribution scheduled time instant to a request source via the communication satellite. A user's terminal receives date with the group address at a reserved time instant, deciphers the date using a key given from the date center separately, and stores deciphered date in a memory thereof.
Abstract:
A microcontroller or microprocessor-controlled broadcast receiver embedded in an external peripheral with a digital communications interface. In one embodiment, a microprocessor-controlled broadcast receiver is embedded in the housing of an external computer peripheral. The external computer peripheral is connected to a personal computer (PC) via a digital communications link such as USB (universal serial bus). Control data is relayed from the personal computer to the broadcast receiver in the external computer peripheral via the digital communications link. Audio signals received by the broadcast receiver in the external computer peripheral may also be relayed to the personal computer via the digital communications link or via an analog interface for recording storage, or manipulation by the personal computer. The broadcast receiver may also receive data signals in addition to audio signals (datacasting). The data or audio signals or both may be encrypted.
Abstract:
A digital broadcast transmission system comprises a plurality of spaced transmitters (6). Each transmitter (6) receives signals for transmission from a master transmitter (2), e.g. on a satellite, along with a reference frequency (F.sub.REF). The reference frequency is used to generate the transmission frequency at each spaced transmitter. At a receiver (12), conversion means can be used, to enable signals from the master transmitter (2) and from the other transmitter(s) to be received. A preferred application is digital audio broadcasting (DAB). Specifically, the present invention is useful in connection with Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (COFDM) modulation.